Whatever his motives for outwardly avoiding all recognition
of the settler, certain it is that, so far from this,
he sought sedulously to conceal his own identity,
by drawing the slouched hat, which formed a portion
of his new equipment, lower over his eyes. Left
to do the duties of the rude hostelry, Captain Jackson
and he now quitted the hut, and leading their jaded,
smoking, steeds a few rods off to the verge of the
plain they had so recently traversed, prepared to
dispose of them for the night, Gerald had by this
time become too experienced in the mode of travelling
through an American wilderness, not to understand
that he who expects to find a companion in his horse
in the morning, must duly secure him with the tether
at night. Following, therefore, the example of
the Aid-de-Camp, he applied himself, amid the still
pelting rain, to the not very cleanly task of binding
round the fetlock joints of his steed several yards
of untanned hide strips, with which they were severally
provided for the purpose. Each gave his steed
a parting slap on the buttock with the hard bridle,
Jackson exclaiming, “go ye luxurious beasts,
ye have a whole prairie of wet grass to revel in for
the night,” and then left them to make the best
of their dainty food.

While returning, Grantham took occasion to observe,
that he had reason to think he knew the surly and
inhospitable woodsman, by whom however he was not
desirous of being recognized, and therefore begged
as a favor that Captain Jackson would not, in the
course of the night, mention his name, or even allude
to him in any way that could lead to an inference
that he was any other than he seemed, a companion
and brother officer of his own; promising, in conclusion,
to give him, in the course of the next day’s
journey, some little history of the man which would
fully explain his motives. With this request Jackson
unhesitatingly promised compliance, adding, good humouredly,
that he was not sorry to pledge himself to any thing
that would thaw his companion’s tongue into
sociability, and render himself, for the first time
since their departure, a listener. Before entering
the hut Gerald further observed in a whisper, that
the better to escape recognition, he would, as much
as possible, avoid joining in any conversation which
might ensue, and therefore hoped his companion would
not think it rude if he suffered him to bear the tax.
Jackson again promised to keep the attention of the
woodsman directed as much as possible to himself,
observing, that he thought Gerald had already, to his
cost, discovered he was not one easily tired out by
conversation, should their host be that way inclined.